This vibrant arugula salad is a perfect blend of fresh greens, juicy cherry tomatoes, and crunchy walnuts. The addition of thinly sliced red onion adds a subtle sharpness, while the olive oil and balsamic vinegar dressing brings everything together with a delightful tang.
If you don't usually keep arugula or balsamic vinegar at home, you might need to pick these up at the supermarket. Arugula is a peppery green that can be found in the produce section, often near other salad greens. Balsamic vinegar is typically located in the vinegar or salad dressing aisle.
Ingredients For Arugula Salad Recipe
Arugula: A peppery, leafy green that forms the base of the salad.
Cherry tomatoes: Small, sweet tomatoes that add a burst of flavor and color.
Red onion: Thinly sliced for a mild, sharp taste that complements the other ingredients.
Walnuts: Toasted for added crunch and a nutty flavor.
Olive oil: Used as a base for the dressing, adding richness and smoothness.
Balsamic vinegar: Provides a tangy, slightly sweet flavor to the dressing.
Technique Tip for This Recipe
To enhance the flavor of the walnuts, toast them in a dry skillet over medium heat for 3-5 minutes, stirring frequently until they are golden brown and fragrant. This will add a delightful crunch and a deeper, nuttier taste to your arugula salad.
Suggested Side Dishes
Alternative Ingredients
arugula - Substitute with baby spinach: Baby spinach has a similar texture and slightly milder flavor, making it a great alternative to arugula.
cherry tomatoes - Substitute with grape tomatoes: Grape tomatoes have a similar sweetness and juiciness, providing the same burst of flavor in the salad.
red onion - Substitute with shallots: Shallots offer a milder and slightly sweeter taste compared to red onions, which can be a pleasant variation in the salad.
walnuts - Substitute with pecans: Pecans have a similar crunch and nutty flavor, making them a suitable replacement for walnuts.
olive oil - Substitute with avocado oil: Avocado oil has a neutral flavor and similar health benefits, making it an excellent alternative to olive oil.
balsamic vinegar - Substitute with red wine vinegar: Red wine vinegar provides a tangy flavor that complements the salad well, though it is slightly less sweet than balsamic vinegar.
Other Alternative Recipes Similar to This Salad
How To Store / Freeze This Salad
To keep your arugula salad fresh and vibrant, store it in an airtight container. This will help maintain the crispness of the arugula and the juiciness of the cherry tomatoes.
If you anticipate leftovers, consider storing the dressing separately. This prevents the arugula from becoming soggy. Simply pour the olive oil and balsamic vinegar mixture over the salad just before serving.
For an extra layer of freshness, place a paper towel at the bottom of the container. This will absorb any excess moisture and keep the salad crisp.
If you need to store the salad for more than a day, avoid adding the walnuts until you're ready to eat. This will keep them crunchy and prevent them from becoming soft.
Freezing arugula salad is not recommended as the arugula and cherry tomatoes will lose their texture and become mushy. However, you can freeze the walnuts separately if you have extra.
When ready to enjoy your stored salad, give it a gentle toss to redistribute the dressing and refresh the flavors. If needed, add a splash of olive oil and balsamic vinegar to revive the taste.
For best results, consume the stored arugula salad within 1-2 days to enjoy its optimal flavor and texture.
How To Reheat Leftovers
- If you have leftover arugula salad, it's best to enjoy it cold. Reheating can wilt the arugula and make the cherry tomatoes mushy.
- However, if you prefer a warm salad, consider these methods:
- Light Sauté: Gently sauté the arugula and red onion in a pan with a small amount of olive oil for 1-2 minutes until just wilted. Add the cherry tomatoes and walnuts at the end to warm them slightly.
- Oven Warm-Up: Preheat your oven to 300°F (150°C). Spread the salad on a baking sheet and warm it for about 5 minutes. This method helps to keep the walnuts crunchy.
- Microwave: Place the salad in a microwave-safe dish. Cover it with a microwave-safe lid or plate. Heat on low power for 20-30 seconds, just enough to take the chill off without cooking the arugula.
- Remember to toss the salad again after reheating to redistribute the dressing.
Best Tools for This Recipe
Large bowl: Use this to combine the arugula, cherry tomatoes, red onion, and walnuts.
Small bowl: This is perfect for whisking together the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, salt, and pepper.
Whisk: Essential for mixing the dressing ingredients thoroughly.
Chef's knife: Ideal for halving the cherry tomatoes and thinly slicing the red onion.
Cutting board: Provides a stable surface for chopping and slicing vegetables.
Measuring cups: Necessary for accurately measuring the arugula, cherry tomatoes, red onion, and walnuts.
Measuring spoons: Useful for measuring the olive oil and balsamic vinegar.
Salad tongs: Handy for tossing the salad to ensure the dressing is evenly distributed.
Toaster oven: Convenient for toasting the walnuts to bring out their flavor.
How to Save Time on Making This Salad
Pre-wash and prep: Wash and dry the arugula and cherry tomatoes in advance. Store them in the fridge to save time later.
Use pre-sliced onions: Buy pre-sliced red onions from the store to cut down on prep time.
Toast in bulk: Toast a large batch of walnuts and store them in an airtight container. This way, you have them ready for multiple recipes.
Make dressing ahead: Whisk together the olive oil and balsamic vinegar dressing in advance and store it in the fridge. Give it a quick shake before using.
Arugula Salad Recipe
Ingredients
Salad Ingredients
- 4 cups arugula
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 0.25 cup red onion, thinly sliced
- 0.25 cup walnuts, toasted
- 0.25 cup olive oil
- 2 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine arugula, cherry tomatoes, red onion, and walnuts.
- In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, balsamic vinegar, salt, and pepper.
- Pour dressing over the salad and toss to combine.
Nutritional Value
Keywords
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